Agriculturally beneficial microbes, microbial compositions, and consortia

Abstract

The disclosure relates to isolated microorganisms—including novel strains of the microorganisms—microbial consortia, and agricultural compositions comprising the same. Furthermore, the disclosure teaches methods of utilizing the described microorganisms, microbial consortia, and agricultural compositions comprising the same, in methods for imparting beneficial properties to target plant species. In particular aspects, the disclosure provides methods of increasing desirable plant traits in agronomically important crop species.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of imparting at least on beneficial trait upon a plant species, the method comprising:
 applying at least one isolated bacterial species to a plant or a growth medium having a plant, wherein the at least one bacterial species is selected from the group consisting of  Kosakonia radicincitans  deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67171 ; Kosakonia radicincitans  identified as strain BCI 107 deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67946; 
   Novosphingobium sediminicola  deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67168; 
   Novosphingobium sediminicola  identified as strain BCI 136 deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67948; and, 
   Novosphingobium sediminicola  identified as strain BCI 82 deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67945; and combinations thereof; wherein the at least one isolated bacterial species is present in a composition that comprises a stabilizer, a preservative, a dispersant, a freezing point depressant, and a wetting agent; wherein the at least one isolated bacterial species is present in the composition at at least 1×10{circumflex over ( )}3 bacterial cells per gram of the composition. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying comprises applying a microbial consortia comprising at least two of the isolated bacterial species. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the isolated bacterial species is formulated in an agricultural composition with one or more of the following: an agriculturally acceptable carrier, a pesticide, a plant growth regulator, a beneficial agent, and a biologically active agent. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying occurs by: coating a plant seed with said bacteria, coating a plant part with said bacteria, spraying said bacteria onto a plant part, spraying said bacteria into a furrow into which a plant or seed will be placed, drenching said bacteria onto a plant part or into an area into which a plant will be placed, spreading said bacteria onto a plant part or into an area into which a plant will be placed, broadcasting said bacteria onto a plant part or into an area into which a plant will be placed, combining the bacteria with a fertilizer or other agricultural composition and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the seed coating comprises at least one isolated bacterial species at a concentration of 1×10{circumflex over ( )}5 to 1×10{circumflex over ( )}9 bacterial cells per seed. 
     
     
       6. A method of imparting at least on beneficial trait upon a plant species, the method comprising:
 applying at least one isolated bacterial strain to a plant or a growth medium having a plant, wherein the at least one bacterial strain is selected from the group consisting of: 
   Kosakonia radicincitans  deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67171; 
   Kosakonia radicincitans  identified as strain BCI 107 deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67946; 
   Novosphingobium sediminicola  deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67168; 
   Novosphingobium sediminicola  identified as strain BCI 136 deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67948; and, 
   Novosphingobium sediminicola  identified as strain BCI 82 deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67945; wherein the at least one isolated bacterial strain is present in a composition that comprises a stabilizer, a preservative, a dispersant, a freezing point depressant, and a wetting agent; 
 wherein the at least one bacterial strain is present in the composition at at least 1×10{circumflex over ( )}3 bacterial cells per gram of the composition. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the applying comprises applying a microbial consortia comprising at least two of the isolated bacterial strains. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the applying occurs by: coating a plant seed with said bacteria, coating a plant part with said bacteria, spraying said bacteria onto a plant part, spraying said bacteria into a furrow into which a plant or seed will be placed, drenching said bacteria onto a plant part or into an area into which a plant will be placed, spreading said bacteria onto a plant part or into an area into which a plant will be placed, broadcasting said bacteria onto a plant part or into an area into which a plant will be placed, combining the bacteria with a fertilizer or other agricultural composition and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the isolated bacterial strain is formulated in an agricultural composition with one or more of the following: an agriculturally acceptable carrier, a pesticide, a plant growth regulator, a beneficial agent or a biologically active agent. 
     
     
       10. An agricultural composition, comprising:
 (a) at least one isolated bacterial species selected from the group consisting of  Kosakonia radicincitans  deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67171; 
   Kosakonia radicincitans  identified as strain BCI 107 deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67946; 
   Novosphingobium sediminicola  deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67168; 
   Novosphingobium sediminicola  identified as strain BCI 136 deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67948; and, 
   Novosphingobium sediminicola  identified as strain BCI 82 deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67945, and combinations thereof; and 
 (b) a composition comprising a stabilizer, a preservative, a dispersant, a freezing point depressant, and a wetting agent; wherein the at least one bacterial strain is present in the composition at at least 1×10{circumflex over ( )}3 bacterial cells per gram of the composition. 
 
     
     
       11. The agricultural composition according to  claim 10 , wherein said agricultural composition is formulated as a seed coating, a fertilizer additive, a spray, a drench, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       12. A synthetic combination of a plant and the agricultural composition of  claim 10 . 
     
     
       13. The synthetic combination of  claim 12 , comprising at least two of the isolated bacterial species, or different strains of the same species. 
     
     
       14. The synthetic combination of  claim 13 , wherein the at least two of the isolated bacterial species or different strains of the same species are coated onto the seed of the plant or applied onto the surface of a part of the plant, or applied into an area into which a plant will be planted, or combined with a fertilizer or other agricultural composition. 
     
     
       15. The agricultural composition of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more additional composition(s) selected from the group consisting of: an agriculturally acceptable carrier, a pesticide, a plant growth regulator, a beneficial agent, a biologically active agent, an herbicide, a bactericide, a fungicide, an insecticide, a virucide, a miticide, a nematocide, an acaricide, a rodenticide, an anti-algae agent, a biocontrol agent, another bacterial species, a fungal species, a compatibilizing agent, an antifoam agent, a cleaning agent, a sequestering agent, a drift reduction agent, a neutralizing agent, a buffer, a corrosion inhibitor, a dye, an odorant, a spreading agent, a penetration aid, a sticking agent, a binder, a thickening agent, an emulsifier, an antimicrobial agent, a fertilizer, an inert carrier, a polymer, and any combination or plurality of the preceding. 
     
     
       16. The agricultural composition of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one isolated bacterial species is selected from the group consisting of:  Kosakonia radicincitans  deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67171 and  Novosphingobium sediminicola  deposited as NRRL Accession Deposit No. NRRL B-67168.